Bending machine



Dec. 29, 1942.

E. w. ALLARDT BENDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 5. 1939 INVENTOR gfilvsr W14/.LAR0T ./3. 7- 2/ ATTORNEY Filed Oct. 5, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 i Dec;29, 1942. E. w. ALLAR-DT 1 i 2,30 ,37

BENDING MACHINE v Filed Oct. 5, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wm M a k s w H 6.Eu 7 w Y 8 a H w m. A. T 54 E N m n A Deg 29, 1942.

E. w. ALLARDT BENDING MACHINE 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 5. 1939ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 29, 1942 BENDING MACHINE Ernst W. Allardt, Parma,Ohio, assignor to The Yoder Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation ofOhio Application October 5, 1939, Serial No. 293,043

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for bending sheet metal in a rapidmanner.

The machine may be applied to the bending of I fiat metal strips,angles, and metal sections of varying cross sectional shape, the exampleshown consisting of a preformed-strip having a curvilinear crosssection.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of thistype, having a work feeding device arranged to control the bendingdevices in relation to the supply of each work piece irrespective of thelength thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine ofthis type wherein the bending device is cam controlled and operable inrelation to the supply of each metal section, whereby the sections areuniformly bent.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine ofthis type wherein the work support is of sectional form, one section ofwhich is movable and operable during the feeding of each work piece,whereby the bending operation may be effected upon any portion of thework.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved machine ofthis type wherein the work support is of sectional form, one section ofwhich is movable and controlled by cam means, whereby one or more bendsmay be imparted to each work piece.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart to which my invention relates from the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is asection on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the means for controlling the camshaft, substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sections on the lines 5--5 and 6-6,respectively, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section on the line 'I'I of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a detail view showing a different form of cam. I

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing a different embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 11 is a. fragmentary view partly in eleva- Fig. 13 is a fragmentaryview showing a modified form of cam.

In the drawings, I indicates a base member provided with an uprightsupport 2 of any desired construction. The support 2 is provided withsuitable standards 3, 3a, forming supports for upper and lower sleeves4, 4a, the upper sleeve being adjustable in a well known way by meanstion and partly in section on the line IIII of of screws 5. The sleeves4, 4a, house suitable anti-friction bearings for upper and lower shaftsIi, 6a, the inner ends of which are geared together and one thereof isdrivingly connected to a shaft 1. The driving means between the shafts6, 6a, and the shaft 1 are contained in a casing 8, the walls of whichare preferably formed integrally with the standard 3a. The shaft I isprovided with a power'element, such as a pulley 9, engaged by a suitableendless member. I0, driven by a pulley II fixed to the shaft of a motorI2. The motor I2 is supported on a yoke member I3, which is fixedlysecured to a pad I3a provided on the support 2, the securing devicespermitting adjustment of the motor I2, whereby the endless member I 0may be maintained taut. The endless member I0 and pulleys 9 and II maybe of a type which change the driving ratio of the shaft 1 to the motorshaft when the motor I2 is adjusted.

The outer ends of the shafts 6, 6a, are provided with work engagingrolls I4, I4a, respectively, which have peripheries complementary to theshape of the work and arranged to engage the work, whereby the latterwill be fed forwardly. As the rolls I4, I4a, are continuously driven,upon the introduction of a work piece between them, the work piece,irrespective of its length, will be fed between and through the rollsI4, I411. The rolls I4, I4a, are mounted between fixed and movablesections I5, I50, of a table for the work, the fixed section I5 beingmounted on a standard I6 supported on-the support 2. The movable sectionI5a is carried by an arm I! preferably consisting of spaced members Ilarigidly connected at their outer ends by a cross member I'Ib, themembers Ila at their inner ends being pivotally mounted on the shaft 6aat opposite sides of the roll Ida, whereby the outer end of the arm maybe swung about the axis of the shaft 6a, to operate the table sectionI50, in relation to the table section I5 and roll I4, as the work is fedby the rolls I4, I la, forwardly, to effect bending or curving of eachwork piece. The cross member I'Ib is preferably approximately T-shaped,the depending leg I8 of which supports a stud shaft I8 (see Fig. '7),The shaft I9 is provided with a roller 23 which engages a cam 2|, thecam being detachably fixed to and driven by a shaft 22. The shaft ismounted in suitable bearings provided in brackets 22a which are securedto the support 2. An expansion spring 222) connected to the arm i1 andsupport 2 normally serves to maintain the roller 23 in engagement withthe cam 2|. The shaft 22 is normally held stationary with the cam 2| ina predetermined starting position and arranged to support the work engaing section' lid in position (preferably horizontally) to engage eachwork piece as it is fed forwardly. The shaft 22 is adapted to beconnected to a onerevolution clutch 22' the driven member of which isdriven by one of the roll carrying shafts 6, 6a, preferably the lowershaft 6a,.so that the speed of the cam may be synchronized with the feedof each work piece by the rolls N, Na, relative to the table sectionsl5, I511. In such construction, due to the fact that the connection ofthe cam shaft 22 to clutch 22' is controlled by the supply of each workpiece A to the rolls M, Ma, as later set forth, the cam 2| may bearranged to operate upon any predetermined portion of each work piece;that is, upon an end portion of each work piece or a portionintermediate its ends.

The one-revolution clutch 22' may be of any standard form ofconstruction. One example of such a clutch is shown in the application'of Alexander Borzym, Serial No. 193,957, on which Letters Patent No.2,205,389 issued June 25, 1940. In that application the clutch elementsare released by a cam, whereas theclutch elements 22 herein are releasedby a stop, as later set forth. The driven member of the clutch 22' isprovided with a sprocket 23, which is engaged by an end less chain 24.The chain engages with and is driven by a sprocket 25 fixed to the rollshaft 6a. The chain 24 is maintained taut by an adjustable idler 24a.The connection of the shaft 22 to the driven member of the clutch 22 iscontrolled by a collar 26, rotatably fitting the shaft 22 and having ashoulder 26a normally engaged by a movable release device 21, whichserves to hold the collar 26 stationary and the shaft 22 in disconnectedrelation to the driven member of the clutch, but upon release of theshoulder 26a by the device 21 (see dotted lines in Fig. 4), the collarconnects the driven clutch member to the shaft 22 to rotate the latter.As the release device 21, following its release of the shoulder 26a, isreturned to normal position'under the influence of a spring operatedplunger 28'mounted on the device and engaging a fixed stop or abutment28a, with its shoulder engaging element 214; in the path of movement ofthe shoulder 25a, the rotation of the collar will be stopped, the effectof which is disconnect the shaft 22 from the driven clutch member at theend of one revolution of the shaft 22. The shaft 22 may be provided witha suitable magnetically operated brake, indicated as an entirety at 23,which stops therotation of the shaft when it becomes disconnected fromthe clutch and releases it when the clutch is connected to the shaft.The release device 21 is connected by a link 3|) to one arm of a rocker3| fixed to a rock shaft '3la, which is mounted in hearings on thesupport 2, the other arm of the rocker being normally disposed in thepath of movement of a trip 32 which operates the rocker, as later setforth. The rocker 3| being connected to the release device 21, it isreturned to normal position after it is operated by the trip 32 underthe influence of the spring for the plunger 28. The shoulder engagingdevice 21a of the release device 21 is preferably provided with a shank21b slidably fitting a recess in the wall of the device 21, acompression spring being interposed between the inner end'of the shank21b and bottom of the recess to absorb the shock incident to theengagement of the shoulder 23a with the device 210 to stop the collar23. A pin or other device is mounted in the recess for the shank 21b andis engaged by the end wall of a cut-away formed in the shank to limitits outward movement under the influence of the compression spring. Theplunger 23 is mounted in the wall of .the release member 21 similarly tothat of the device 21a.

.33 indicates as an entirety the supporting and supply means for eachwork piece, preferably comprising the following: 34 indicates a bar(which may consist of a tubular member) fixedly fitting into an openingformed in a plate 34a on the side wall of the standard It. The outer endof the bar 34 is provided with a block 34b which is connected to one endof a laterally projecting rod 35, the other end of the rod, through ablock 36, being detachably connected to the upper end of a pedestal 31.38 indicates a slide member on which each work piece A is positioned andthen moved forwardly to engage the advancing end thereof with the rollsl4, |4a, this member consisting of a tube 38a slidably fitting the bar34 and an angle 38b suitably secured to the tube 33a. The rear end ofthe angle 38b is connected by a flexible member, such as a chain orsection of rope 39, running over a sheave 39a, with a weight 4|), whichnormally maintains the slide member 38 in its rearmost position with thetube 38a in engagement with the block 34b, the block serving as a stopfor the member 38. Where the angle 38b is fixed to a tube and the latterslides on a correspondingly shape guide, as above set forth, I providethe guide bar with a laterally projecting pin 4| which slides in anelongated slot 4la formed in the tube 38a to prevent the latter fromrotating on the bar 34 and thus maintain the angle 38b in operativerelation to the table sections I 5, lie, and rolls l4, Ma. The trip 32consists of a dog pivoted on a, bracket 32a which is secured to theunderside of the tube 38a in spaced relation to the rocker and moveswith the tube to operate the rocker 3| as shown in dotted lines in Fig.4. The tail portion of the dog 32 is arranged to engage the bracket tolock it against rotation so as to be effective to operate the rocker 3|in the forward movement of the member 33, but is free to swing about itspivot to ride the rocker in the return movement of the member 33. 42indicates a guide for each work piece when positioned on the supportingangle 38b. The guide consists of a plate arranged transversely of theangle 38b. The plate may be adjustably secured to the angle 38b in anydesired manner, but preferably it is formed with a slot 42!: whichreceives the up-standing wall of the angle 38b, and by means of a setscrew 43 threaded through its end wall, the plate is removably andadjustably secured thereto. The position of the guide 42 on the angle38!) depends upon the length of the work pieces A and that portion ofeach work piece that is to be bent by the table section l5a, so thatwhen the supporting member 38 has moved a distance equal to the spacingbetween the trip 32 and rocker 3|, plus the excess distance requiredtoeffect a release of the device 21a from the shoulder 26a. and movementof the arm l1 into operative position, that portion of the work piece A,namely, its advancing end or that interfed into engagement with thetable section i611.

While the trip 32 is shown as fixed to the slide member 38, it may beadjustably mounted thereon to increase or decrease its spaced relationto the rocker 3|.

The cam 2| is removably secured on the shaft 22, so that it may bereplaced by a cam having a -difl.erent contour, the securing means alsopermitting the cam to be angularly adjusted on the shaft to insure itsoperation in any predetermined relation to the feed of each work piece.

Operation-In Fig. 1 the guide 42 is shown at the rear end of the slidemember 38 so as to take a section of material A of maximum length andthe cam 2| is provided with a wall 2| a the radius of which determinesthe curvature to be imparted to a portion of each section. The length ofthe curved portion will depend upon the speed of the cam 2| relative tothe speed of the sections. Each section of material is placed on theslide member 38 with its' rear end against the guide 42. The slidemember 38 is then moved forwardly to engage the advancing end of thesection A between the rolls l4, Ha, which feed the section forwardlyrelative to the table sections l5, l5a. As soon as the advancing end ofthe section A is engaged by the rolls I4, I 4a, the slide member 38 isreturned to its starting position or allowed to-return under theinfluence of the weight 48. In the forward movement of the slide member38 the trip 32 engages with and operates the rocker 3| which effects aconnection of the clutch 22' with the shaft 22 to rotate the cam 2| thewall 2|a of the cam 2| in turn swings the arm I! upwardly to positionthetable section |5a in a predetermined angular relation to the wall l5 andslide member 38, the tablesece tion |5a in this position serving tocurve the section upwardly (see Fig. 6), until the cam wall 2| movesbeyond the roller to permit the arm I! to swing downwardly to its normalposition, following which the remaining portion of the section is fedforwardly by the rolls l4, Ma. The

guide 42 is positioned on the slide member 38 at a predetermineddistance from the rolls 4, Ha, dependent upon the length of eachsection. In the arrangement illustrated, the guide 42 may be positionedso that the trip 32 will effect operation of the arm I! to curve the endportion of the sec tion or a portion inwardly of its advancing end.

The portion of each section to be curved may also be varied bysubstituting a cam having a cam wall arranged to operate the arm I! atany desired angular position of the cam as it rotates.

Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate a modified construction of cam consisting of ahub member 44 fixed to the shaft 22, a disk 45 adjustably fixed to thehub member by bolts 45a extending through elongated slots, whereby thedisk and hub member may be angularly'adjusted one relative to the other,and a camming device 46 mounted on the disk and adjustable radially, itsouter wall serving as a cam to operate the roller 28. The cam 46 isformed with elongated openings for bolts 46a, which secure the device tothe disk 45, the openings for the bolts 46a being parallelly related anddisposed on opposite sides of an imaginary radius extending midwaybetween them. The outer or roller engaging cam wall may be of anydesired shape. A plurality of cam devices 46 may be employed as shown.When two cam devices 46 are employed any existing space between them maybe closed by a spacer to provide a continuous outer wall.

41 indicates a stop carried by the support 2 below the arm' I! forlimiting the downward movement of the latter at any desired position.The stop 41 preferably comprises a suitable bolt threaded through andadjustabiy secured by jam nuts 41a to a bracket 48 on the support 2.By'adjusting the stop 41 to so limit the down? ward movement of the armI1 that the position the table section |6a will be at an angle to thesection l5, during engagement of the roller 28 with the inactive portionof the cam 2|, the latter will bend each work piece on one radius andthe remaining portion thereof on another radius.

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a modified form of construction whereinthe driven. feed rolls, indicated at Hz, |4a:' are mounted on verticallydisposed shafts and the work engaging members or sections, indicated atI52, l5x', at opposite sides of the rolls |4:r, Hm, are disposedvertically, the latter member being swingable laterally on the shaft forthe roll |4:c. By preference, the swingable'section I51 is provided witha pair of rollers I 5', l5", which engage the work to reduce thefriction thereon, and cooperate with a cam 2|a to bend portions of eachwork piece in opposite directions. The rollers l5, l5", freely rotate ontheir supporting shafts. The shaft for the roller I5" is mounted in abearing box 49, which is adjustably mounted in a standard 49a. The shaftfor the feed roll I40: is mounted in a bearing box 58 which isadjustable in ways 58a by a screw 5|. The shafts for the feed rolls4.1:, Hz, are geared together, as shown at 52,,and one of said shafts isdrivingly connected by bevel gears 53, 53a, to a shaft 54. The shaft 54is provided with a gear 55 in mesh with a gear 55:; fixed to the shaftof a motor 56. The motor shaft through an endless member 51 drives acountershaft 68', which through bevel ears 59, 59a, drivesa' sleeveshaft 68, the latter being connected to and driving the rotary member ofa one-revolution clutch, indicated as an entirety at BI. The drivingelement for the endless member 51 consists of relatively movable members51a which may be adjusted toward and from each other by a hand wheel 51bto change the speed ratio of the motor shaft and shaft 58, the endlessmember 51 being shaped to co-act with the members 51a. As this form ofchange speed iswell known, it is not illustrated in detail. Theconnection of the driven member of the clutch 6| to a shaft 62, on whichthe cam 2| 0. is removably mounted, is controlled by the release of acollar (similar to the collar 28 shown in Fig. 4) by a release device63, the latter being operated to release the collar by a link 64connected to and operated by a rocker 64a. The cam 2|a inthis form ofconstruction controls the swinging movement of the member |5.'z:' tobend portions of each work piece in opposite directions. In the form ofconstruction shown in Fig. 10, the face of the cam 2|a is provided withan eccentric groove 2|b in which a roller 65, carried by a device 65.1.extending from the member l5x', is guided as the cam rotates.Accordingly, as each work piece is fed by the rolls |4a:, |4:c' throughthe rollers I5, l5, the member i532 will be operated in'one directionthroughout a portion of the cam groove 2|b and in the opposite directionthroughout another portion of different contour and having exterior andinterior cam walls 2|c, 2|c' engaged respectively by rollers 65a, iia',mounted on the member Hz, to operate the latter about its axis first inone direction and then in the opposite direction,

ber 38 already described. The member 66 isprovided with a trip 81, whichengages with and operates the rocker 64a, in each forward movement ofthe slide member 66, the rocker in turn, through the link 64, serving torelease 'and then reengage the collar, whereby the clutch rotates theshaft 62 one revolution to operate the cam zla. A table it is providedto support each of the work pieces as it leaves the rolls [5, IS", theouter end of the table being provided with a swingable section 68a whichmay be adjusted to different positions (as shown in dotted lines)dependent upon the curvature of the bent work pieces. The section "a maybe of any desired length.

It will be noted that in my form of construction the cam is connected tothe power means by the slide member 38 in its forward movement todeliver a work piece to the feed rolls and automatically disconnectedfrom the power means when it has moved a predetermined distance, so thatthe work pieces of any desired length may be operated upon.

incident with the axis of one of said rolls, a cam arranged to swingsaid pivoted member about its axis, power means, a one-revolution clutchinterposed between said power means and the port, said member beingpivoted on an axis coincident with the axis of one of said rolls, a camarranged to swing said pivoted member about its axis, a clutch having amember drivingly connected to the shaft for one of said rolls, and meanscontrolled by said support for connecting said clutch to the shaft forsaid cam and disconnecting it therefrom.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. My description and the disclosure herein arepurely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a bending machine, the combination of a reciprocatable support forwork pieces, a pair of driven rolls to which each work piece isdelivered by said support, a work piece engaging member disposed on thatside of said rolls remote from said support, said member being pivotedon an axis co-incident with the axis of one of said rolls, power means,a cam normally disconnected from said power means but arranged whenconnected thereto to swing said pivoted member about its axis toward theother roll, and means actuated by said support as it delivers a workpiece to said rolls for connecting said power means to said cam.

2. In a bending machine, the combination of a slidable support for workpieces, a pair of driven rolls to which each work piece is delivered, awork piece engaging member disposed on that side of said rolls remotefrom said support, said member being pivoted on an axis coincident withthe axis of one of said rolls, a cam arranged to swing said pivotedmember about its axis, power means, a clutch interposed between saidpower means and the shaft for said cam, and means controlled by saidsupport for connecting said clutch to the cam shaft and disconnecting ittherefrom.

3. In a bending machine, the combination of a slidable support for workpieces, a pair of driven rolls to which each work piece is delivered, awork piece engaging member disposed on that side of said rolls remotefrom said support, said member being pivoted on an axis co- 5. In abending machine, the combination of a support, a member for work piecesslidable on said support, an adjustable guide on said slidable memberfor each work piece, a trip carried by said member, a pair of drivenrolls to which each work piece is delivered by said slidable member, andarranged to feed each work piece endwise, a work piece engaging memberon that side of said rolls remote from said slide member normallydisposed in the plane of said slidable member and swingable about theaxis of one of said rolls toward the other roll into position to bendeach work piece as it is fed endwise by said rolls, and means controlledby said trip for swinging said work piece engaging member into and outof operating position in a predetermined relation to the feed of eachwork piece.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair ofdriven feed rolls, a slidable support for a work piece arranged todeliver it to said-feed rolls, a work piece engaging member on that sideof said feed rolls remote from said slidable support, pivotally mountedat its inner end to swing relative to the plane in which the work pieceis delivered to said feed rolls, and means controlled by said slidablesupport for swinging said work piece engaging member.

7. Avmachine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said swinging means includesa one revolution clutch.

8. In -a machine of the class described, the combination of a pair ofrolls for feeding work pieces, means for driving said rolls, a slidablesupport for work pieces arranged to deliver each thereof to said feedrolls, a member on that side of said feed rolls remote from saidslidable support, pivotally mounted at its inner end to swing relativeto the plane in which each work piece is delivered to said feed rolls, acam for swinging said member during movement of the work piece betweensaid feed rolls, and a variable drive means between said driven shaftand the shaft for said cam.

9. In a bending machine, a slidable support for work pieces, a pair ofdriven rolls to which each work piece is delivered by said support, awork piece engaging member disposed on that side of said rolls remotefrom said support, said member being pivoted on an axis co-incident withthe axis of one of said rolls, means for supporting said member in-apredetermined inclined position to curve each section on one radiusduring feeding thereof, a cam'arranged to swing said member about itsaxis toward the other roll into a different inclined position forbending a portion of each work piece intermediate its length on ashorter radius, and means controlled by said support for rotating saidcam.

10. In a bending machine, a slidable support for work pieces, a pair ofdriven rolls to which each work piece is delivered by said support, awork piece engaging member disposed on that side of said rolls remotefrom said support, said member being pivoted on an axis co-incident withthe axis of one of .said rolls, a cam having an inactive portion and anactive portion which is arranged to engage and swing said member aboutits axis toward the other roll to bend one portion of each work piece;means for rotating said cam, a spring normally tending to swing saidmember in the opposite direction, and a device for limiting the movementof said member under theinfluence of said spring at a predeterminedposition, whereby said member, during the disengagement of the activeportion of the cam therewith, bends another portion of each work piece.

11. In a bending machine, a slidable support for work pieces, a pair ofdriven rolls to which each work piece is delivered by said support, a

work piece engaging member disposed on that side of said rolls remotefrom said support, said member being pivoted on an axis co-incident withthe axis of one of said rolls, separate devices arranged to be engagedby said member and support it at angles relative to the plane of saidsupport, a spring normally tending to swing said member toward saiddevices, one of said v 5 devices being movable relative to the otherdevice and arranged when operated to support said member at an angledifierent from the angle thereof when said member engages with the otherdevice, and means for operating said movable device to support saidmember at one predetermined angle during engagement of one portion ofeach work piece therewith and during the engagement of another portionof each work piece with said member to permit the other device tosupport said member at another predetermined angle.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 11 wherein said operating means arecontrolled by the delivery movement of said support.

13. In a bending machine, the combination of a slidable support for workpieces, a pair of driven rolls to which each work piece is delivered bysaid support, a work piece engaging member disposed on that side of saidrolls remote from said support, said member being pivoted on an axisco-incident with the axis of one of said rolls, a cam arranged to swingsaid pivoted member about its axis toward the other roll, means forrotating said cam,and a device on said support arranged to control saidcam rotating means as said support is operated to deliver a work pieceto said rolls.

14. In a bending machine as claimed in claim 13 wherein said support isprovided with a guide adjustable longitudinally thereof to provide apredetermined relation between it and said control device, whereby thelatter controls said rotating means in relation to the feed of the workpiece.

ERNST W. ALLARDT.

